Phyllis: I know you and cane have had your issues, but you don't really think
he's guilty, do you?

Billy: Honestly, I don't know what to think right now. Either way, this
lawsuit is enough to cause major damage. Brash & sassy was on shaky ground
already dealing with the hockey-footage mess-up. And Victoria just smoothed
everything over with the league. Now she's dealing with this.

Phyllis: So, she's taking the lawsuit personally?

Billy: Yeah. She's obsessed with winning. I understand that. But I'm worried
about her. It's a lot, and... I just don't want it to take its toll.

Phyllis: Well... you can make sure that you're there for her, to cover for
her, you know, at work or with the kids. As an employee and co-parent, those are
your responsibilities.

Ashley: Well, Mr. Graham Bloodworth, I think we've made enough wrong
assumptions about each other. What do you say about starting over?

Victoria: You know, I've been giving a lot of thought to the negative
publicity that brash & sassy will have to endure, whether or not we beat this
thing.

Michael: I'm right there with you. Maybe even a step ahead. I got, uh, Leslie
to agree to a protective order.

Victoria: What does that do?

Michael: It seals all of the depositions. They won't be part of the public
record, and they will be off-limits to the press and anybody else.

Victoria: That's good news.

Michael: They'll be conducted in private in my office.

Victoria: I still don't understand why Leslie would agree to something like
this.

Michael: Oh, well, one would assume that it is not in Juliet's best interest
to be branded a liar in the public record.

Victoria: That's true. That could put a damper on any future career plans she
may have. All right. So, you said you wanted to go over my testimony for the
deposition.

Michael: Yes. There are three key points. First, while she was working at
brash & sassy, Juliet never reported being sexually harassed?

Victoria: Never.

Michael: Second, she was fired for cause?

Victoria: Yes.

Michael: And finally, the decision to terminate her employment was yours
entirely. Cane had nothing to do with it.

Victoria: True.

Michael: Then you'll be fine. Just remember, Leslie's the one who's gonna be
asking the questions, and her goal will be to trip you up, get you to contradict
yourself, and if possible elicit some strong emotional reaction that she can
dissect and use against you later.

Victoria: All right, well, if I have to keep my emotions out of this, then
that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

Billy: Victoria's the mother of my children. I'm always gonna be concerned
about her well-being.

Phyllis: Believe me, I get it.

Billy: And that includes the times where stress takes a toll. [Clears throat] Look, it's not because she tells me about these things,
it's not because she complains about them. It's because I know her, okay? I know
how to read the signs. It's the same thing with you and jack, right?

Phyllis: In what way?

Billy: In the way that you still want what's best for him even though you're
not together with him.

Phyllis: Well, I suppose. And I know it's different because jack and I don't
have kids to consider. Look, it just seems that Victoria is... I don't know,
occupying a lot of your time and attention lately.

Billy: Hey. I'm with you. That's why I moved in here, so I could be as close
to you as possible.

[Phyllis chuckles]

Billy: 'Cause you're the only woman that I want.

Phyllis: I'm not questioning that commitment. It's just -- it's really more
of an observation. Look, I know that Victoria is used to depending on you, and
you're used to taking care of her. That's all.

Billy: Well, that will change. I mean, you'll see a difference in me once
this lawsuit is figured out and everything goes back to normal. I can't help but
feel a little bit responsible about what happened in los Angeles, and now
Victoria is, you know, left to deal with the backlash of it. If none of that
happened, Juliet would still be working at brash & sassy, and this lawsuit, it
wouldn't even be a thing.

Phyllis: That's not on you.

Billy: But it does take time away from the kids. And I'm, you know, packing
up and shacking up with my new roommate.

Phyllis: And she would never want you to spend time away from the kids,
especially if you're feeling like you need a little extra dad time. Like
tonight. I mean, you know, if you want, go over there. Surprise them.

Lily: You know she's not just using her show as a platform for Juliet's
claims, right?

Cane: No, she wants to destroy us.

Lily: And she's gonna enjoy every minute of it.

Jack: Mother, why would you think that you let us down?

Dina: You don't know me, jack. It's been too many years.

Jack: We want to. We all do. Ashley wants to. That's why I invited you to
move back into our home.

Dina: Your home, not mine.

Jack: It is the Abbott family home, and you still have a place there. I don't
think you realize how little dad changed that house after you left.

Dina: [Laughs] Oh, what do you mean? Of course he changed it. It was years
ago.

Jack: No, no, no, no. It was a long time before he ever re-decorated one room
in that house. I know... he was holding out hope that maybe you'd walk through
that front door. I guess we all were. Dad wanted things the same. So that if you
came back... it would be like you never left.

Dina: [Gulps]

Jack: And it could've been. Dad would've forgiven you anything. The same for
me.

Gloria: Well, how very thoughtful of you to stop by and bid jack adieu.

Dina: Well, as a matter of fact, I'll be staying in Genoa city a bit longer.
Didn't jack tell you?

Gloria: No.

Ashley: How did you end up in Paris?

Graham: Well, like any other bored college student, I couldn't wait to
travel. So when I finished school, that's what I did. I fell in love with the
city of lights, so I stayed.

Ashley: And you have a background in business?

Graham: I've had a great deal of experience in business, yes. And as an
entrepreneur, I know the difficulties of running your own company. I never
actually wanted the corporate life until I met Dina.

Ashley: And then the two of you just kind of clicked?

Graham: [Chuckles] Something like that, yes. She needed someone with my
skill set, and I needed a mentor, so it's been a successful partnership for both
of us.

Ashley: So... there you were, an American in Paris.

Graham: [Laughs] Originally a Midwesterner, just like you.

Ashley: Oh, really?

Graham: Mm-hmm.

Ashley: Specifically from...?

Graham: A small town where good, wholesome values are preached.

Ashley: But not always practiced.

Graham: [Laughs] Of course not. Honor, loyalty, family. I believed all of
it.

Ashley: Yeah, it's a lovely vision. Until you have to live it every day.

Graham: Believe me, I know all too well how complicated family dynamics can
get. And I'm in no position to judge.

Ashley: Why do you say that?

Hilary: Hey. I missed you. I'm glad you came back.

Jordan: I was just at Lily's.

Hilary: Oh.

Jordan: Yeah. She's going through hell because of this lawsuit.

Hilary: I realize that, okay?

Jordan: And the thought of you turning this into scandal headlines about her
marriage... she's a wreck, Hilary.

Hilary: I was sitting here, okay, and I was rehearsing what I was gonna say
to you if you gave me a chance.

Jordan: Yeah, I bet you were.

Hilary: I didn't create the situation, okay? I'm just reporting on it like
any other reporter would, because it happens to be my job. But saying it out
loud like that, yeah, it... I hear how false it is. There's no way to separate
history from facts with lily. It was influencing my decisions, and it was
turning any kind of story into a personal vendetta. But, fortunately, nothing is
prepared on the story, so no harm done.

Jordan: So...what? You're dropping it?

Hilary: Yeah. I'm stepping back. I'm stepping back from any involvement in
this lawsuit. In fact, Juliet asked me to be a witness at her deposition, and I
said no.

Jordan: Wait. Juliet called you as a witness? You don't work for brash &
sassy. How would you know what did or didn't happen between cane and Juliet?
Unless your involvement in this is way deeper than what you've told anyone.

Baa baa black sheep,

Dina: Why don't we get together sometime and have lunch?

Gloria: You and me?

Dina: Absolutely.

Gloria: Heh...

Dina: We've got a lot in common, you know.

Gloria: Mm.

Dina: We're both ex-wives of john, and care deeply for jack.

Gloria: Actually, I am john's widow.

Dina: Hm.

Gloria: As for jack, I work for him. Executive assistant.

Dina: Oh, come on, Gloria. I know you're sleeping with him.

Gloria: [Exclaims] Excuse me, I beg your pardon, but that is a huge
mistake. I mean, we are not -- I mean, we have not ever --

Dina: Oh, just relax, honey. Don't get your knickers all in a hissy fit.

Gloria: I am just not comfortable having this conversation right now.

Dina: Well, all the more reason why we should have lunch. I'm just trying to
understand my son. And what makes him happy these days.

Gloria: Well, if and when you figure that out, would you please tell me?

Dina: Oh, I certainly will.

Lily: Look, my main concern right now is the impact this is gonna have on
Mattie and Charlie. You know, as far as I know, they don't know anything, but
they need to hear this from us.

Cane: I don't want to dump this on them at all, so... I don't know. Maybe we
just don't tell them until we have to.

Lily: No, cane, it's too risky. They -- they could hear it from somebody
else. What if my dad or Devon makes some offhand remark, and they start asking
questions? It's just too hard to keep things under wraps these days. Listen, we
have to be on the same page about this.

Cane: You're right. They should hear it from us. I'm just... I'm just
sickened that they're gonna think that I'm the kind of man that could do this.

Victoria: [Sighs] I want you to be honest with me, Michael. What's the
worst-case scenario?

Michael: Juliet insists that we take this to court, and we have to do it all
over again. Then it's in the hands of the judge or the jury.

Victoria: I just hate the thought of this dragging on day after day, with
Juliet and Leslie inflicting as much damage as they can. [Sighs]

Michael: You have to remember, Juliet's the one who stands to really get hurt
here. You fired her for cause. You treated her very fairly. Better than most
employers under the circumstances. You even offered to give her a good
reference. If she pursues this, she could incinerate any chance she has of
getting another job in your industry, and many others.

Victoria: Why can't she see that?

Michael: I have handled dozens of cases with... ambiguities that could have
gone either way. This isn't one of them.

Victoria: You're not just saying that, right?

Michael: As your attorney and your friend, we have the facts, and they're on
our side.

Jordan: You might as well tell me what it is that Juliet wanted you to reveal
under oath.

Hilary: It wasn't like that. She just -- she wanted me to be a character
witness, that's it. But I realized that there was a conflict of interest, and
that's why I stepped back. You were right to call me out. Okay? It was a reality
check, and... I need those sometimes. More than I like to admit. Okay? I'm
trying to be better. I want to... I want to just let go of old grudges and petty
resentments. But I do, I... I slip up. Well, you know, the best thing about you
is that you -- you challenge me. So I need you to help me stay on this path. I
want to be a woman that you can be proud of. Okay?

Jordan: You know who you should be proud of? Whoever taught you how to act.
Because you're right up there with viola Davis and Meryl Streep. And the only
thing that you regret about your plan to trash lily and cane is that I caught
wind of it. Good luck on your new path, Hilary. You'll need it.

Michael: Mwah! It's lovely to see you, as always, but unfortunately Lauren is
at Fenmore's.

Phyllis: Oh, that's no problem. I actually came to see you.

Michael: Hmm. Could this perhaps be regarding the case, the one in which I am
bound to secrecy due to attorney-client privilege?

Phyllis: I am not looking for anything private, okay? I just need to know how
long it's gonna take, that's all. Just, you know, best guess.

Michael: [Chuckles] May I ask why this is of interest to you?

Phyllis: Well, I know that I could be sounding pretty selfish right now,
considering how serious those charges are that you're dealing with, but I got a
feeling that Victoria might be using this lawsuit to keep Billy as close as she
can.

Michael: Uh-huh. Go on.

Phyllis: Well, you know... she's not dumb. She's certainly not the histrionic
type, but... I don't know. It's more subtle, you know? It's like she's putting
on this vulnerable act around Billy, just enough so that he thinks she's on the
edge of a nervous collapse.

Michael: I have not observed that. But I have to admit, the recent meetings
have been focused on Juliet and the charges.

Phyllis: Yeah, well, Billy blames himself for that entire mess. If it wasn't
for that stupid hockey-player footage airing, you know, this lawsuit, I don't
think, would even be happening.

Michael: Agreed.

Phyllis: Victoria knows how Billy feels, and I think that she is willing to
exploit those feelings. Then, of course, there's the co-parenting thing. And,
quite frankly, I think she wants me out, because she wants to be in.

Michael: I always tell you the truth. That's why you're here. So I have to
tell you, the pressure Victoria's under is quite real.

Phyllis: She can handle it. She's neither weak nor helpless. And these days,
she's more like victor than victor.

Billy: Hey.

Victoria: Hi. I thought you were working from home?

Billy: I thought you'd still be at the office. I just wanted to come and see
Johnny and Katie. Are they upstairs?

Victoria: Actually, mom took them this afternoon. Pony rides with cousin
faith, so...

Billy: Surprise dinner with dad doesn't really compete with that.

Victoria: Well, she's bringing them back before dinner. You're welcome to
join us if you like.

Jack: Sorry, mother. That took longer than I thought it --

Gloria: She went back to the club.

Jack: Well, she was never great about sticking around. You'd think I'd
remember that after how many years?

Gloria: Are you okay? I mean really okay?

Jack: I'm fine. I'm just beginning to wonder why I spend so much time
worrying about my mother.

Gloria: And her "companion"?

Jack: You know what, whatever graham is or isn't, maybe I should just leave
it alone. She seems happy.

Gloria: Yeah, she does. But looks can be deceiving, especially where personal
relationships are involved.

Jack: Ever since she got to town, I have been living in the past -- rehashing
mistakes, hers and mine, and all the drama that goes with them. You know, it
hasn't done me one bit of good. Maybe I should have just let things alone and
let her go back to Paris like she planned.

Gloria: Mm-hmm. I don't think you mean that, jack. I think you've spent many
years wishing she was part of your life, and giving you what a mother is
supposed to give. Love. Approval. You never grow out of that stuff, jack.

Jack: I probably just spent most of my life thinking I would one day have
those things. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be competing for them
with the likes of graham.

Gloria: Oh. You're jealous. Because he has more of her than you do. Oh, god.

Jack: Did she say anything before she left?

Gloria: Yes, she did. She said quite a bit. She thinks we're a thing.

Jack: I hope you cleared up that misconception.

Gloria: [Sighs] Yeah, well, I guess that straightens that out, huh?
Whatever we had is over, or has been for a long time, and naive Gloria just
didn't quite catch on.

Jack: Well, we both know how this started. Gloria, you got what you wanted.
You have a great income, and the right kind of benefits -- medical and dental.

Gloria: Can't argue with that. Come on, it was fun while it lasted, wasn't
it?

Jack: I'd like to think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Gloria: [Titters] Well, ain't you romantic.

Jack: Gloria, I thought we agreed you didn't need anything more, that we both
didn't need anything more complicated.

Gloria: It's true. I just started looking forward to sneaking around with
you. Thought you did, too.

Jack: Why are we talking about --

Gloria: Oh, stop it. Stop it. Stop it, jack. Just relax. Just relax and
forget I ever said anything. It was what it was. We are adults. You're moving
on. Hmm.

Jack: I'm trying.

Gloria: Mm. You keep that up. I'm going back to my desk and earn some of
those very special benefits you were talking about.

Graham: My mom and dad, they weren't just madly in love. They were, from all
appearances, the perfect couple. I always thought it so strange as a kid, all
the jokes I'd heard in movies and from my parents' friends about how marriage
was really horrible, and husbands and wives could barely tolerate each other's
existence. Mine truly enjoyed spending time together. Till I saw it all fall
apart. To the point where they could barely stand to speak to one another.

Ashley: That must have been awful for you.

Graham: Heartbreaking. Hard to understand. [Sighs] But you learn to adapt, because life goes on.

Ashley: I'm so sorry.

Graham: Well, that's why I learned not to care about outward appearances. So
often they're wrong.

Ashley: So, are you still close with your parents?

Graham: Sadly, no. I wish I had had more time with them. You know, you and
your brother and sister are so lucky to have Dina back in your lives. She is an
amazing human being. I truly hope you can all make the most of it. [Scoffs, laughs] Listen to me. Platitudes abound. We should, uh, take off
before we both start weeping.

Graham: Dina!

Dina: Oh! Ashley, dear. What a lovely surprise.

Ashley: Yeah, I was just, uh, getting to know graham a little bit better. And
I wanted to thank him for supporting your decision to stay in town a little bit
longer.

Dina: Well, you know, he takes the best care of me.

Ashley: Mm. Well, it means a lot to me. And especially for Abby's sake.

Dina: Your daughter is a remarkable young woman, and I'm so very proud of you
both.

Ashley: Well, thank you very much. That means a lot. Anyway, I've got to get
back to jabot. Thank you, graham.

Graham: Pleasure, Ashley.

Ashley: Bye.

Dina: Bye, dear.

Billy: Thank you for the dinner invitation. My dad time's been a little
curtailed with everything that's been going on.

Victoria: Yeah, well, they haven't exactly been getting a lot of mom time,
either, ever since the lawsuit smacked us in the face.

Billy: Do you need help in the kitchen with anything, Vick?

Victoria: No. Actually, Hannah, super-nanny that she is, prepared everything
right before she left. She has been putting in a lot of overtime around here.

Billy: Well, if you need help with anything with Johnny and Katie, you just
say the word.

Victoria: Thanks. [Sighs] I know you've been picking up the slack at the
office, though, and taking over a lot of Juliet's workload, and doing damage
control and all that.

Billy: Okay, let's just be honest about this. You are the one that's being
put through the wringer.

Victoria: I'm okay. I am fully confident that Michael is gonna take down
Juliet.

Billy: Well, I hope you're right about that.

Victoria: And I have everything under control. I promise you it's gonna stay
that way. Because I am very good at what I do. So you don't have to worry about
me.

Devon: I got your text.

Hilary: I didn't think that you would come.

Devon: I almost didn't. But then I heard about the news feature you plan to
run on lily and cane. So much for taking the high road, huh?

Hilary: Devon, if you could just let me --

Devon: What do you actually get out of this feud that you have with my
sister? 'Cause I really don't understand it. You and I aren't together. You have
no connection to her whatsoever.

Hilary: I decided not to run the story, okay? Nothing about cane or lily or
the lawsuit.

Devon: So you're gonna make a reasonable decision not based on hate and
resentment? That's a first for you.

Hilary: You know, I didn't sexually harass Juliet. And I didn't fire her. All
I did was recommend a lawyer to a woman who came to me and said that she wanted
to stand up for herself. Jordan doesn't believe me. No one else does, either.
But it's the truth, okay?

Devon: Okay. So that's what happened today? Jordan's had it with you, and you
decided to shoot me a text to see if I'd be susceptible?

Hilary: Well, you're here, aren't you?

Devon: I was.

Hilary: Devon, wait.

Lily: Mattie! Charlie!

Charlie: What's up?

Mattie: How long is this going to take? I really need to get through three
more chapters.

Charlie: Yeah, and I got to leave for practice in a few.

Cane: It's not gonna be that long, but, um... sit down for a sec. We need to
have a little family meeting.

Lily: It's really important. Uh, we think that you guys are mature enough to
understand what's going on, and we want you to hear it from us.

Ashley: Graham's last name is Bloodworth. Born and raised in the Midwest.
Both parents deceased. Went to Paris after college. Never left.

Jack: Nice work. Anything else?

Ashley: Yes. His parents suffered some kind of horrible trauma that has
scarred graham deeply. Therefore, he suggested that you, Traci, and I cherish
our time with our mother.

Jack: Oh, this after he did everything he possibly could to keep us away from
her? You didn't buy a word of that, did you?

Ashley: He's very skilled at sounding sincere, let's put it that way.

Jack: Well, he would have to be, to pull the wool over someone as smart as
our mother.

Ashley: And I asked Ravi to do an extensive internet search on one graham
Bloodworth.

Jack: I applaud the effort, but I don't think we have time for a deep dive
into every online crevice. No, we need to get this guy out of mother's life
today.

Ashley: Today?

Jack: Okay, A.S.A.P. But trust me, Mr. Bloodworth is doing everything he
possibly can to get our mother back on that plane and out of this country. We
need to get her to turn on him. We need to get her to think differently about
him. And by "we," I mean you.

Ashley: I'm sorry?

Jack: Well, you have a connection with him. You've said as much. You're
gorgeous, you're smart -- devious when you need to be.

Victoria: I promise you, I am not falling apart any time soon. If you want to
worry about somebody... I nominate Phyllis. How about that? And if you want to
make yourself useful, you can go set the table.

Billy: [Chuckles] Okay. I will get right on that.

Victoria: Okay.

Hilary: I can be more honest with you than I can with anyone else, because
nobody knows me the way that you do.

Devon: All right. So, what do you want?

Hilary: I thought I wanted this show. Maybe I was wrong.

Devon: So, what do you want?

Hilary: I don't know! Okay? I always... I felt like you -- you were trying to
control me all the time, okay, but maybe -- maybe you were just trying to
protect me from my own worst instincts. Devon, you were my... you were my
balance. You were my voice of reason. And now I have to be my own conscience,
and... I get to do whatever I want to do. And I don't have to answer to anyone,
and... and I like that. I do. I just... [Sighs] Except for times like this. When I don't know. I don't have a clue.

Devon: It's okay. It's okay.

Cane: Mate, your mum and I are fine, and there's nothing going on between us.
It's just the case. [Sighs] You have an amazing mother. And I couldn't get through this without
her, okay? And we have Michael Baldwin, who is Genoa city's best attorney,
handling the lawsuit. So hopefully... it's just gonna go away.

Charlie: Yeah. No worries, dad. I mean, I know you wouldn't do something like
this.

Cane: Come here. [Sighs]

Charlie: I love you, Dad.

Cane: I love you. It's gonna be okay.

Next on "The Young and The Restless"...

Jack (to Gloria): I hate that my mother is being exploited by him. Please
help me out.

Michael: Leslie. Juliet.

Leslie: I'm surprised to see so many people here. That's an intimidation
tactic.

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